Album Notes

LAST SESSION IN PARADISE
The David Martin Quintet Reunion

Featuring DAVID MARTIN on Piano, JAMES MORRISON on Trumpet and Trombone, DALE BARLOW on Saxophones and Flute, DARCY WRIGHT on Acoustic Bass, ALAN TURNBULL on Drums and NORMA MARTIN Singing 3 of her Songs.

This mostly Jazz Intrumental CD, with many fine solos from these outstanding musicians, ranges from Bebop and Modern Jazz to some Latin and is mostly upbeat in mood: a “Classic” Australian Jazz Record.

The David Martin Quintet used to play regularly at The Paradise Jazz Cellar at Kings Cross in Sydney. This CD was recorded at the coincidentally-named Paradise Studios 22 years later. The jazz spot and the studios are now no longer – thus the title LAST SESSION IN PARADISE.

DAVID MARTIN started playing piano with the legendary Brian Brown Quintet and performed regularly at Jazz Centre 44 in Melbourne, Australia. David headed up several bands, including “Energy And Friends” who were invited to support Count Basie, and his own The David Martin Big Band featuring some of Sydney’s foremost jazz musicians. The David Martin Quintet, as heard on LAST SESSION IN PARADISE, supported Anita O’Day The New York Jazz Giants, and Old And New Dreams.
David performed as the invited pianist with the 18-Piece Elizabethan Orchestra with The Australian Ballet in a modern ballet based on the music of Duke Ellington at The Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Palais and The Adelaide Festival Hall.
The common thread of this quintet was to play the hell out of the jazz in the contemporary style of Miles Davis, Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers, Dizzy Gillespie, Clifford Brown to name a few heroes.
JAMES MORRISON is one of the most accomplished and successful musicians Australia has ever produced. Playing Trumpet and Trombone on this album, he in fact is adept at any instrument, is in great demand overseas and a listening experience is always guaranteed. www.jamesmorrison.com
James has always said that The Paradise was where he learned to play hot. Getting together for a reunion of The David Martin Quintet performing at The Basement in Sydney one night in 2002, after hitting the first 16 bars with that rhythm section of David Martin, Darcy Wright and Alan Turnbull, James right away locked in again with wonderful saxophonist, DALE BARLOW just like days of old, and lent across the piano and said to David “It feels like 22 minutes, not 22 years!”.
DALE BARLOW is another extraordinary Australian Jazz Musician, a Saxophonist of great accomplishment and success. Working for several years overseas with many true jazz giants, including being part of Art Blakey And The Messengers. Dale continues to be in great demand overseas and is at the time of writing, working in New York. www.jazz-planet.com/~dbarlow Gorgeous playing.
DARCY WRIGHT at one time was named by Rolling Stone Magazine as one of the world’s top 10 Bass Players. He toured with Cleo Laine and Johnny Dankworth and has worked with many visiting jazz legends and vocalists including Tony Bennett, Jack Jones and Nancy Wilson.
ALAN TURNBULL was part of Australian Maestro Don Burrows’ Quartet for many years and performed locally and internationally, including Carnegie Hall in New York. He is regarded as a legend by many drummers, performers and musicians both in Australia and Overseas.
NORMA MARTIN sings with deep voice three of her own songs on this CD, adding a taste of vocal to this album. One track a ballad, one a bossa and the last being a fun swing number. Proud to be an added part of the team way back and now with this CD. www.normamartin.com